Women’s Health

Standout formulas that help bring back balance, boost energy, and offer protection against breast cancer

Hormone imbalances can impact nearly every aspect of wellbeing. Estrogen dominance, for example, is associated with tender and fibrocystic breasts, mood swings, fibroids, insomnia, and even dry skin. It has a number of potential causes, including alcohol use, taking birth control pills, and being overweight. These fantastic formulas help restore hormone homeostasis with clinically proven natural compounds, herbs, and nutrients. Take a look:

How it Works: Research suggests that our bodies use natural plant lignans, now sparse in the modern diet, to safely and gently buffer and balance the potentially adverse effects of excess or toxic estrogens, which has been established as the most well known cause of certain breast problems.

How to Use: Take 1 capsule once or twice daily, with juice or water, with or without meals.

How it Works: Supports breast health with proven nutrients, including vitamin D3, essential for the regulation of normal cell division and differentiation of breast tissue cells in therapeutic levels, and DIM, found in cruciferous vegetables, to promote beneficial estrogen metabolism. DIM is also known to help ease PMS symptoms.

How to Use: Take 1—2 capsules daily, preferably with meals. It can be used with any bone support supplement, or with any multivitamin that doesn’t provide more than 2,000 additional IUs of vitamin D per day.

Nature’s Way DIM-Plus

What’s in It: DIM, a phytonutrient found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and kale; vitamin E.

How it Works: It supports the activity of enzymes that improve estrogen metabolism. Research demonstrates that DIM increases the level of favorable estrogens (2-hydroxy-estrogen) while reducing the level of less favorable estrogens (16-hydroxyestrogen). Great for easing symptoms associated with PMS, such as irritability, depression, water retention, and mood swings.

How to Use: Can be taken by both women and men. Take 2 capsules daily with food. For intensive use, you can take up to double the recommended dose.

New Chapter Estrotone

What’s in It: A combination of evening primrose oil and herbs, including black cohosh, schizandra, rosemary, and ginger.

How it Works: It promotes hormone balance in pre- and post-menopausal women with herbs designed to help improve liver health (for better metabolism of hormones), reduce inflammation, ease hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause, and decrease symptoms associated with PMS and perimenopause. Other benefits may include: Enhanced sexual function, better bone health, and improved memory

How it Works: B vitamins are essential for almost all aspects of women’s health—from reducing PMS symptoms and boosting mood to easing anxiety and increasing energy levels. Many women also report clearer skin and less hormone-related acne while taking a B-complex formula. The tiny tablet comes in an exclusive Instant-Dissolve MicroLingual form for optimal absorption and utilization.

How to Use: Dissolve two MicroLingual tablets under the tongue daily.

How Safe Is the Pill?

Women have been using oral contraception for decades, but just how safe are these synthetic hormones? “It’s important to recognize that the Pill is a potent steroid drug that carries serious risks,” says Sherrill Sellman, ND, author of Hormone Heresy.

Sellman notes that the earlier a woman uses the Pill, the greater her risk of breast cancer and possibly large tumors. Oral contraceptives can interfere with the healthy functioning of the liver, pancreas, ovaries, and immune system, says Sellman. If you take the Pill, be sure to avoid nutritional deficiencies with proper supplementation. Check with your local health food store for a product designed for those on the Pill. To learn more about this topic, visit Sellman’s website at whatwomenmustknow.com.